tour description

Magic suitcase Franconia

On this bike radial bike tour the magic suitcase Franconia opens up. Starting from Bamberg (UNESCO World Heritage Site) you discover by bike such beautiful destinations as Castle Pommersfelden, the Baroque pilgrimage church Vierzehnheiligen, the German Korbstadt (basket city) Lichtenfels, the varied Regnitz Valley, Castle Seehof, Coburg with its famous fortress or in Hassfurt works by Tilman Riemenschneider. You cycle on cycle paths and small country roads through the partly hilly Bamberg hinterland. With about 70 small private breweries, this area is considered the region with the highest density of private breweries worldwide. Surrounded by the Upper Franconian brewerys, rich in carp ponds and wildlife, gourmets will find many delicious snacks.

Your hotel: 4-star-superior hotel Royal Palace in central Bamberg

You stay in Bamberg on the banks of the Regnitz, a few steps from the Old Town, in the Wellcome 4-star-superior Hotel Residenzschloss Enjoy the combination of baroque and modern, which shapes the feel of the hotel (built in 1787).

184 elegantly equipped rooms invite to relax for a week. Let yourself be enchanted by the culinary delights in one of the two restaurants and indulge in coffee and cake on the terrace, the breakfast can already be an experience. Round off your day in the lounge with a cool drink or enjoy rest and relaxation in the spa "Spa Residence". Fill you body, mind and soul with new energy for your next cycling day. Enjoy a rose petal or power energy bath and relax with a soothing massage! The small spa area features a bath room with two comfortable bathtubs, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, sun beds and a small fitness room.

1. day Bamberg Arrival

Upon arrival Bamberg Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage) invites for a first visit. Your hotel is situated in a quiet location on the Regnitz in the city center (easy parking, railway station 2.1 km, bike rental on site).

2. day Discover Bamberg by Bike (only Mon or Thu) 12 km

Look forward to an exciting city tour by bike. An experienced guide will show you the beauties of the city during a 12 km bike route. Apart from the cathedral and Michel Berg, where you have to walk your bike short, the bike course is flat and comfortable, mainly on asphalt, in the old town partly on cobblestones. Start at the Tourist Office. Discover the Old Town Hall, the traditional restaurant Schlenkerla, Little Venice, St. Michael, The Old Palace, the Cathedral, the Rose Garden, the New Residence, the Concordia water castle, the historic lock 100, the old town, the university, the gardener city, the Grove Park and the theater. In three hours you will not only learn a lot about history and sights but also about the country and people.

3. day round trip to the castle Pommersfelden 32-56 km

On this tour you will discover the hilly but very beautiful Bamberg region. After only a few low-traffic kilometers you are in front of the city gates. You cycle through shady forests slightly uphill and then be rewarded with fantastic views. Take a worthwhile break in Grasmannsdorf in the beer garden of the Castle Brewery (founded 1783), before you continue biking to Pommersfelden. Majestic and unexpectedly, the original Baroque building. Take a tour and get impressed by the imposing marble hall, sumptuously appointed rooms and the gigantic staircase. On the way back a stop in Pettstadt is recommended. Marvel at the oldest ferry greed of Upper Franconia and the splendor of the baroque parish church. Shortly after the town under the tall trees of the Schrauder-Keller there is a perfect location for a short break. It is known for excellent snacks. For this round trip to Pommersfelden you need to be in good shape but you can make the tour easier by taking the Steigerwald-Express to Pommersfelden (Cycling time is approximately 1 hour), or by using an electric bike, or you cycle there and back via Pettstadt.

4. day Main-Cycle Path, Lichtenfels and Vierzehnheiligen 46 km

You start the day with a train ride (about 20 minutes) to the German Korbstadt (basket city) of Lichtenfels. It is widely known beyond the region of Franconia. In the second half of the 19th century the basket industry flourished here in the Upper Main. The global trade relation were built from Lichtenfels to New York till St. Petersburg and London to Rio de Janeiro. By 1900 there were 14 basket companies in Lichtenfels, including the largest in the industry. Discover the historic town hall in Lichtenfels, a late medieval timber-framed building and the Catholic parish church. Visit one of the many basket weavers of the city or in Michelau (3km), the German basket Museum. With exhibits from all over the world it shows almost everything that can be woven from willow: Child and doll carriage, miniatures, designer furniture, wicker baskets and curiosities. Definitely you should not miss the excursion to the baroque pilgrimage church of the Vierzehnheiligen (Fourteen Saints) (2.5 km). It was built by the famous architect Balthasar Neumann, extensively renovated a few years ago and today shines in full splendor. Back in the 15th century pilgrims strived after 14 saints to ask for the protection of the 14 helpers, still today it is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in Germany. After an impressive tour you cycle down into the valley and follow the Main cycle path back to Bamberg. The ascent to the monastery Vierzehnheiligen can be easily bypassed with a large taxi (details provided in your travel documents).

5. day Regnitztal 35 oder 55 km

Look forward to a varied cycle tour along the Regnitz and start right outside the hotel! The Regnitztal bike path leads idyllic out of Bamberg. You cycle through the wide Regnitztal with its riparian forests, historic water wheels, through fertile fruit and vegetable land, where fresh fish and best Franconian beer culture are at home. Always alternating you follow once the idyllic small river, sometimes the bike path along the Main-Danube Canal. Discover the Slave Church in Seußling, the oldest German single malt whiskey distillery in Neuses and the beautiful half-timbered old town of Forchheim with picturesque houses from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Visit the Museum of Horseradish in Baiersdorf and marvel at the wooden waterwheels in Möhrendorf. Experience Erlangen, the smallest large city in Bavaria, stroll through the beautiful courtyard and through the winding narrow streets of the old town that exudes French flair. In the afternoon you take the train from Forchheim (35 km) or Erlangen (55 km) back to the beautiful city of Bamberg.

6. day round trip to the privat breweries 37 km

This route combines cozy cycling through beautiful countryside with the enjoyment of the special variety of beers and beer tradition of Upper Franconia. However you start this day with culture. Just outside of Bamberg you discover Seehof Palace, which was built (from 1686) as a summer residence for the prince-bishops according to plans from Antonio Petrini. Marvel at the White Hall with its impressive ceiling paintings, at the sandstone sculpture of the Rococo garden and at the rippling cascades of the water games. Around noon you reach the small community Geisfeld with pretty half-timbered buildings and several private breweries. Starting from here your tour features many breweries, beer cellars and enticing beer gardens. From Strullendorf you cycle leisurely along the Main-Danube Canal back to Bamberg.

7. day Coburg 62 km or Main-Cycle Path Hassfurt 40 km

Today you are spoiled for choice: either you discover Coburg (first mentioned in 1056 AD.) with the famous Coburg castle (fortress) and the Brastwurstmännla or the small town of Hassfurt am Main with its venerable parish church and interesting figures of Tilman Riemenschneider. If you decide for Coburg, you will need a good cycling condition for the beautiful bike course through the rocky hillside or just take an electric bike. If you visit Hassfurt you mostly cycle easily on the Main Bike Trail. Whatever you choose, a route to Coburg or Hassfurt, the way back will be comfortable by train.

8. day Bamberg Departure

Much too quickly the time passed. Bamberg and its beautiful surrounding areas have much more to offer. Book an extension or just come back again.

prices & services

tour

Main: radial tour

tour no.:

00374

tour type:

Individual tours: Here you decide when and with whom you would like to travel. We provide you with detailed tour documents and practical planning tips, and you enjoy our all-in, worry-free package with separate luggage transport throughout your tour.

Guided tours: You can simply get on your bike and enjoy a group holiday (8–20 participants). Your tour guide will take care of everything, and your luggage will be transported separately.

individual

duration:

8 days

dates of arrival:

level:

This overview shows you the grade of difficulty for our tours:

+

easy: Very relaxed cycling in mostly flat terrain.

++

beginners-intermediate: Easy cycling, pushing the bike now and then.

+++

moderate: for people in a general good shape, a few stretches across more difficult terrain, or pushing the bike.

++++

difficult: For experienced bikers, several tracks in hilly terrain.

beginners-intermediate

In the case of our original Velociped tours, we are the tour operator. We organise and accompany these tours personally.

So that you have an even bigger selection to choose from, we also cover additional routes in collaboration with long-standing partners. With these Velociped partner tours, we are the tour broker.

Velociped-Tour

min. participants:

Minimum number of participantsVelociped can withdraw from the tour twenty-one days before the starting date of the tour, at the latest, in case the minimum number of participants stated under the tour description is not attained. You will duly be informed without any delay in case of a withdrawal. Velociped will of course refund the paid tour price immediately. Please note our General Terms and Conditions.

2

prices 2019

Prices are per person.

Season 1

19.04. – 01.05.2019

15.10. – 26.10.2019

Category A: Comfortable middle-class hotels

Category B: smaller, family-run inns and hotels

For bike & boat trips you will find facility details on cabins and shared rooms in the tour description.

Prices are per person.

Cat. A

Double room 499,00 €

Single room 649,00 €

Season 2

02.05. – 14.10.2019

Category A: Comfortable middle-class hotels

Category B: smaller, family-run inns and hotels

For bike & boat trips you will find facility details on cabins and shared rooms in the tour description.

Prices are per person.

Cat. A

Double room 583,00 €

Single room 733,00 €

cycles

tourer

70,00 €

electric bike

180,00 €

bookable additional nights

Bamberg
Cat. A

Double room 60,00 €

Single room 75,00 €

Travel services

7 nights accommodation with breakfast in 4-star-superior hotel Royal Palace in central Bamberg

free bottled water and tea / coffee and tea-making facilities in the room

use the ResidenzSpas

1 x welcome drink

1 x 3-course dinner

city tour by bike (3 hours) of Bamberg

GPS rental unit with all tour tracks for a deposit of 50,– €. You will receive the device with instructions on-site.

map

worth knowing

Worth knowing about your Radial Tour Bamberg

Please find more information about the Radial Tour Bamberg below. If you have any further questions feel free to contact us by phone: 0049 - (0) 6421 - 886890.

Arrival by train

Bamberg is easily accessible from all major cities in Germany by train. We recommend to take a taxi from the trainstation to get to your hotel. Current schedule information and price information can be found at: www.bahn.de.

Parking facilities at the hotel

Our partner hotels in Bamberg always provide parking possibilities. Sometimes even free, for the entire duration of your bike trip. There are always plenty of parking spots available, no pre-reservation is necessary. Detailed information on parking at your hotel, you will receive together with the detailed travel documents two weeks prior to departure.

Condition of cycle paths

The route is very well signposted and the quality of the trail is very good. The volume of traffic varies, but mostly there is a seperate bike trail.

There are practical no unpaved or poorly developed path. Detailed information you will receive together with the travel documents two weeks prior to departure.

Available rental bikes

If you choose to rent a bike for the tour, we bring it to your start hotel. You can choose between woman’s and men's bicycles either with 7-speed gear shift and backpedal brake, 21-speed gear shift and freewheel or electric bikes. All ladies' bikes have a low opening and the bikes are suitable for all ladies from 150 cm in height. The men's bikes are available in various frame sizes for all gentlemen from 165 cm in height. You simply specify your wishes with your booking.

Apply/rent a GPS device as a navigational aid

On request, we will provide you with a GPS device for the entire duration of your trip. All day trips are stored on the device. Instead of reading the map and written directions, “simply” follow the route shown on the preset device.

You will receive the device, together with a short briefing, at the reception desk of your initial hotel. A security deposit of 50,– € is required for the device.

7 day hotline service

Just in case the bike chain breaks, flooding makes it impossible to continue your tour or any other nasty surprise: You can reach us seven days a week and we will do anything to help you as fast as possible.

tour highlights

Bamberg

As visitors wander through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bamberg, they are particularly enchanted by the city's many different facets. In the hill city Bamberg portrays itself as the Franconian Rome, the island city with Little Venice is its lively heart, the market gardeners' district a part of town steeped in tradition. Bamberg, this means beer from nine breweries within the city, supped in traditional brewery pubs, this means shopping in modern shops and a historical atmosphere. And in the Old Town everything is very close together: Explore the imperial cathedral just a few minutes from your hotel or holiday apartment!

Weissenstein Castle, Pommersfelden

Weissenstein castle in Pommersfelden is one of Germany’s greatest Baroque buildings. Lothar Franz von Schönborn employed some of the best known architects of their time to construct a fantastic building of European importance. One particular highlight is the splendid furnished staircase covering three floors. The garden has been converted from a formal Baroque garden to an English park landscape. Weissenstein castle offers a considerable art gallery with important works of historical art of French, Italian, German and Dutch painters, including paintings of van Dyck and Rubens.

Lichtenfels

Immediately before the gates of Lichtenfels lies the famous " Franconian Triumvirate " - the legendary Staffelberg , the magnificent Banz Monastery and the unique Basilika Vierzehnheiligen , an architectural masterpiece of European renown.

The region "Upper Main Valley" is a paradise for active holidaymakers and a well-being for body and soul: pleasure hiking, cycling, Nordic walking, water sports, spa, the thermal brine Bad Staffelstein, culinary delights, Franconian microbreweries and warm hospitality.

Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers (Vierzehnheiligen)

The baroque Basilica of the Fourteen Holy Helpers is one of the most famous pilgrimage churches in Upper Franconia. It lies directly on the St. James' Pilgrimage Way on the upper Main between Lichtenfels and Bad Staffelstein in a region known as "God's Garden". Built according to Balthasar Neumann's designs, the church is dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers and attracts around 500,000 visitors a year.

German Basket Museum, Michelau

Michelau is considered the cradle of fine basket weaving. This basket weaving technique, which produces delicate baskets out of split and sliced willow branches, has been employed here from the mid 18th century. It developed into a flourishing trade during the 19th century. The exhibition covering a space of about 1000 m² presents an international overview over materials, tools, implements, machines and techniques of basket weaving. The visitor can study examples of the various types of wickerwork - not only baskets, but also objects like furniture, fences or hats - and works by local and international, historical and contemporary wickerwork. A documentation about the sales, trade and transport illuminates the social and economic history background.

Erlangen

Erlangen, the Huguenot town which is located in the heart of the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region, provides a lot to its visitors. Student flair, traditions which are still very much alive, and an open-minded atmosphere are just a few attributes which make Erlangen so liveable and loveable.

Seehof Castle

Seehof Palace was built from 1686 as a summer residence for the Bamberg Prince-Bishops from plans by Antonio Petrini. After secularization it fell into disrepair under private ownership, and by the end of the 20th century extensive renovation work was necessary. Most of the palace is today used by the Bavarian State Conservation Office.

The nine state rooms of the restored Prince-Bishops' apartment, including the "White Hall" with its magnificent ceiling painting by Guiseppe Appiani, are open to the public.

Among the features reflecting the splendour of the former Rococo garden are the restored cascade with its waterworks and some of the original sandstone sculptures by Ferdinand Tietz.

Coburg

The Upper Franconian town of Coburg is situated between the Upper Main Valley to the south and the Thuringian Forest to the north in what is known as the green heart of Germany. The former seat of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha has a population of roughly 42,000 people, but has a wealth of treasures and architectural monuments that would be befitting of many a larger city. Owing to the fact that there are many castles and palaces in Coburg and its surrounding areas, the town is rightfully located on the so-called "road of castles" (Burgenstraße). The Veste Coburg fortress, Coburg´s landmark sits on top of a hill; Ehrenburg Palace was the main residence of the Coburg dukes in the town itself; Callenberg Castle was the former summer residence of the dukes; Rosenau Castle, Prince Albert´s birthplace and the imposing baroque castle of Tambach has been the setting for many "aristocratic romance" in films.

Coburg Castle

The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1056. In 1353 it became the property of the House of Wettin. Because of its strategic importance it was enlarged over the next 150 years to become one of the largest castle complexes in Germany. After the court transferred to the city in the 16th century, the castle served solely as a state fortress.

Haßfurt

The large treasure of architectural monuments: the historic, newly renovated town hall, the two-towered parish church, the chapel, the two gate towers that delimit the old town, the town hall, which is of supraregional importance as a venue for conferences, concerts and cultural events enjoy, and the main promenade.